NYC Day 1: It’s New York Times

In my United States checklist, New York city was the second in my list after the majestic Niagara Falls. We planned to visit both the places in one go on an Independence Day weekend, this Spring of 2015. You can check out my trip to the ‘Majestic Niagara Falls.‘ It was amazing. We took an Amtrak train from Niagara Falls station around 7:00 AM and reached Penn Station, New York around 3:30 PM. The scenic beauty outside will keep you engaged for quite a lot of time. 

Penn Station or Pennsylvania Station, NY is the major city & interstate rail transit hub beneath Madison Square with tons of great shops and eateries as well and enough space to move around without feeling claustrophobic. There are many different transit lines that are at this station and can be very easy to get lost at least for a tourist like me but the people are very friendly and helping.

As I came outside the station, I was feeling the top of the world that I was in the ‘World’s greatest city or rightly referred as New York is not a city but a world itself’. There were spectacular views all around and my eyes got confused as which side to look at? We took a taxi to our hotel located in lower Manhattan.

Hotel Check-In

Our hotel was the World Center Hotel, located next to the World Trade Center Memorial & Museum and Freedom Tower in Downtown. This was the smallest and the most expensive room I had ever stayed in my life. But no regrets because it was New York City and the Manhattan Downtown’s view was breathe taking from the 19th floor. You couldn’t ask for anything more.

World Trade Center National September 11 Memorial & Museum

It was already 6:00 PM and we thought to take a stroll around the World Trade Center Memorial. More than 3000 citizens were killed here and it is a fitting tribute to all who lost their lives on that tragic day. Though I didn’t like its commercialization part, where you need to buy a ticket for entering the museum. Anyways, this is a very emotional site especially after witnessing the destruction on TV. You have no idea until you are standing there and then it hits you hard.

 The Memorial  Museum is beautiful, solemn and astounding. Building the museum on the exact footprint of the original WTC was brilliant. I couldn’t stop my tears streaming several times throughout the tour as if it happened yesterday. Listening to the messages left to their loved ones were very hard to hear. I also thought it was special to have the opportunity to leave an audio message about that day. All in all, the museum was powerful and peaceful at the same time. Still, can’t believe this happened. To see all of the faces, hear their names and read their stories of those who lost their lives is extremely disturbing and disappointing.

Times Square

Our next stop was Times Square- the part of the city that never sleeps at night. This is the tourist hub spot. If you haven’t visited Time Square, then you haven’t visited New York. Everything is dazzling all around with millions of lights and screens and World’s best Broadway shows. The only disappointing part is it’s always too crowded. Hardly you will get a place to sit somewhere. There are long queues with drawn-out waiting time everywhere. If you are in the shopping mood, then you must have lots of patience to stand in never-ending queues of trial rooms or payment counters for hours. 

The most annoying part of the Times Square are these Cartoon Characters who will get your nerves for money. Even if you want to get clicked yourself with one character, so many characters will come in your picture and ask for tips. Just be little careful as they keep on harassing the tourist. I ended up giving them 20 dollars and they wanted more.

Overall, this place is amazing, full of life and a melting pot of different cultures. This is one of NYC’s most well-known attractions and it’s a ‘must see’ just because you can. It’s free and spectacular. With a mix of food, street performers, people watching, and a gazillion dazzling lights, it is definitely something to see at least once in a lifetime.

My first day in the world’s largest concrete jungle, the city of Skyscrapers, the Big Apple was an incredible experience. I had a mixed emotion after witnessing the tragic memorial World Trade Tower site and the most happening place in the city. My long day was finally about to end.

Do check out my NYC Day 2 and Day 3 experience in the next posts. Let me know your NYC experience or any memories you would like to share in the comments below.

Happy Traveling!
Ana